Science & Technology
What Doctors Learned from Swabbing Subways in Different Countries | WIRED
A subway pole, a turnstile, a seat….what kinds of bacteria and microbes live on these surfaces? Dr. Christopher Mason and his team swabbed every subway station in New York City, and many around the globe, to come up with the answers. Dr. Mason is a Professor of Genomics Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine…
Keva planks
July 26, 2021 at 6:06 pm
Warning: Germaphobes; please do not watch
DonDi212
July 26, 2021 at 6:10 pm
I stopped sitting on the mta a long time ago. Now I’m wearing a glove for the rest of my life on the train.
Omar Arizona
July 26, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Antibacterial resistance 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Got to keep them some👏👏🎬🎬👏👏🎬🎬👏👏👏🎬
I got to thank them for making this video because after the coronavirus is such a tough video to make you can send people to panic and it’s just going to be worse than the corona was here it’s not have any cure just ask Roosevelt to tell you nothing here but fear itself.
I guess something stupid tell people how many bacteria that antibacterial resistant life bacteria that needs to be investigated because it’s a test to get any bacteria that can resist antibiotics the death sentence
RAJPUROHITH RAGHU NADH
July 26, 2021 at 6:15 pm
I observed that pole few years ago before corona i understand how bacteria can be transmitted
Ralf Stephan
July 26, 2021 at 6:42 pm
It’s so ridiculous hearing about this bacteria and that, when actually in every metagenomic study hundreds or thousands of strains of bacteria are found.
Jannelle J
July 26, 2021 at 6:47 pm
I don’t even want to know.
Jarod Marrington
July 26, 2021 at 6:58 pm
Fascinating~🔬
Dantick09
July 26, 2021 at 7:10 pm
That is why I never take the filthy subway
C. Hopper
July 26, 2021 at 11:44 pm
Just wash your hands afterwards. It’s not a big deal.
C. Hopper
July 26, 2021 at 11:45 pm
There’s bacteria, viruses, and other microbes on EVERYTHING you touch, including your skin. Nothing is free of them.
Tonya Richards
July 26, 2021 at 7:38 pm
Yeah, imma stay in the boonies of Vermont.
Santosh nadar
July 26, 2021 at 7:47 pm
Dear my OCD don’t panic, you will be Okay!
Master Oogway
July 26, 2021 at 7:54 pm
That they’ve got way too much time on his hands? How about they go do something productive like find our how many fruit pastilles it take to choke a kestrel?
CALMA
July 26, 2021 at 8:08 pm
Whew I’m glad they didn’t find any corona virus.
Patrick Meehan
July 26, 2021 at 8:08 pm
These microbes were all here before homeboy measured them. And guess what? They didn’t kill us! And they continue not killing us! Interesting topic but it changes NOTHING about how they are and will affect us.
Ian Wilkinson
July 26, 2021 at 8:18 pm
Now wash your hands…
Deliz
July 26, 2021 at 8:35 pm
Moral of the story: Microbes in the NYC subways are better behaved than the subway riders of NYC
Juuk
July 26, 2021 at 8:37 pm
Don’t get scared peopoooo this is normal don’t live in fear just ofc don’t go around licking poles and similar stuff
Raphaelus13
July 26, 2021 at 8:54 pm
Excellent.
Archibald Lancaster
July 26, 2021 at 8:56 pm
So don’t lick the seats in the New York subway
iammaxhailme
July 26, 2021 at 10:33 pm
the least surprising thing i’ve ever heard in my life is finding rat DNA on the subway
Cosmin Contra
July 26, 2021 at 11:09 pm
So which country’s subway is the cleanest?
SteVeL
July 26, 2021 at 11:34 pm
OK, you told us about the microbial population. Now how about the viral?
C. Hopper
July 26, 2021 at 11:45 pm
Viruses are microbes
TheIrek666
July 27, 2021 at 2:47 am
This would be extremely difficult to quantify
C. Hopper
July 26, 2021 at 11:43 pm
So interesting! I was not expecting so many of the things he revealed.
Custom Connections
July 27, 2021 at 12:10 am
Anybody remember George Carlin? That final thought he gave reminds me of Carlins stand up about giving the system a workout, keeps ya healthy.
RedPanda van Leven
July 27, 2021 at 8:12 am
Miss him, he would have had even greater material today
Stephanie Fuller
July 27, 2021 at 12:41 am
The narrator says at 7:43 don’t touch the subway poles and the expert says right after her you can touch the poles. SMH
Josef V
July 27, 2021 at 1:33 am
She says that people MIGHT NOT WANT TO TOUCH POLES and then quickly follows up with BUT THE MICROBES UNDER OUR NAILS ACTUALLY SERVE A PURPOSE then they cut to the scientist explaining. Jesus I mean just watch videos carefully next time and really listen to the complete sentences before commenting. If you find something weird or out of place, listen to it again before reacting.
Slavko Pejic
July 27, 2021 at 12:55 am
There is no radiation inside of nuclear power plant’s cooling tower. So I don’t understand his claim they are harsh places for bacteria. Don’t bacteria love hot wet places?
spawnymint
July 27, 2021 at 2:25 am
This was so interesting! I wonder if this information can be used to trace some infections even if the bacteria itself isn’t dangerous
Demo Dema
July 27, 2021 at 1:41 pm
That would be waste of resources tbh, unless it’s just for statistical purposes. Then it’s alright.
1
July 27, 2021 at 2:38 am
Fear mongering
Kirk Rotger
July 28, 2021 at 12:49 am
How? He literally said that you have more pathogens in your own body than the subway does.
1
July 27, 2021 at 2:38 am
Imagine a vaccine so safe you have to be threatened to take it for a virus so deadly you have to be tested to know you have it.
Event201aGlobalPlandemicExercise.
Covid- Certificate of Vax identification.
1
July 27, 2021 at 2:38 am
The future is sterilized.
RoyalKnightish
July 27, 2021 at 3:14 am
Lol Tokyo has got more antibiotics than microorganism itself.
Paul Derrick
July 27, 2021 at 5:01 am
could fukushima or hiroshimnagasaki radioactivity be responsible for evolving microbes? a n
Mohammed Muzahidul Islam
July 27, 2021 at 5:19 am
This Scientist should come to “INDIA” and “Bangladesh”.
Umaira
July 28, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Yea the species of bacteria in bangladesh would be more than all the other samples combined.
Marge Foyle
July 27, 2021 at 6:12 am
Love this!
JDH
July 27, 2021 at 7:03 am
All I know is a spent an entire year not getting sick and I’m sure af going to wear a mask every winter for the rest of my life.
Demo Dema
July 27, 2021 at 1:40 pm
Yes this is entirely true and I support mask mandates but you should also take into account that your immune system will then forget the natural biome and you’ll be more prone to get very sick when infected by even a common flora.
There must a very proper balance of both avoiding bacteria and ingesting bacteria lolm
JDH
July 27, 2021 at 3:22 pm
@Demo Dema “also take into account that your immune system will then forget the natural biome” is ABOSOLUTELY false. Not like, “I don’t agree,” but pure misinformation. Lots of things affect your immune system: age, depression, viral infections, but NOT avoiding germs. It is an old-wives tale that has stuck around way too long.
Demo Dema
July 27, 2021 at 5:11 pm
@JDH I know what I’m saying bro I’m doing my masters in immunology
JDH
July 27, 2021 at 5:24 pm
@Demo Dema Putting aside that literally anyone with a college degree can be ‘doing’ a masters program, please link your research that shows social distancing and wearing masks weakens your immune system. Because no reputable research even begins to suggest that.
The general fact ‘you need some exposure to microbes’ has no connection to the dangerous claim that wearing masks implies “that your immune system will then forget the natural biome.” It is utter nonsense.
H L
July 27, 2021 at 8:34 am
What a waste of scientific resources.
Adipose Rex
July 27, 2021 at 10:05 am
I would love to do this in any store I shop. Or worse, any restaurant. I can think of one particularly unclean that my spouse loves.
noNewFriends
July 27, 2021 at 10:57 am
Fascinating. Another!
Ben Jones
July 27, 2021 at 11:33 am
Tokyo is one of the oldest metropolis.
Fyn Kozari
July 28, 2021 at 12:26 pm
Why?
Rohit Loya
July 27, 2021 at 2:27 pm
I wonder what would be in Mumbai’s or Delhi’s subway.
Dimmm1
July 27, 2021 at 5:00 pm
dang why is this video not doing well?
Shawn
July 27, 2021 at 5:51 pm
So cool
The cycling NinjaElephant
July 27, 2021 at 7:35 pm
American germs also considered probiotics coming to your country soon! 👍
Dan Jar
July 27, 2021 at 9:49 pm
Since subways existed germs have always been there everyone knows this why make a video about it
Jack Man 13
July 28, 2021 at 12:19 am
That’s disappointing the main guy speaking in this video and all this time taking worthless samples when it could have been doing something productive for himself which is getting a shirt that doesn’t have a million wrinkles and actually fits him…
It’s almost as if he’s being pranked and forced to wear and child’s shirt…
Mary Rose Kent
July 28, 2021 at 6:16 am
Horrible vocal fry…unwatchable!
cdm 13
July 28, 2021 at 9:57 pm
That’s the most unwatchable thing about this video?😐
Mary Rose Kent
July 29, 2021 at 1:41 pm
@cdm 13
I sang in very high level choirs for 30 years, so a person’s voice is a significant factor in my appraisal of their appeal.
John Griffin
July 28, 2021 at 7:40 am
Really interesting video, but why were you talking about bacteria and showing protists?
TheIrek666
July 29, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Looks fancy on agar plate and impresses the general public more. I hate it when the do that. This and when microbiologists working with bacteria call viruses microorganisms, like it’s the same thing for them, even though viruses are completely out of their league.
Rentaro89
July 28, 2021 at 8:02 am
The before and after of big events would be interesting. Like what was different in Rio? And how did it change after the start of the pandemic? Did the desinfection of whole streets do something significant in Asia?
Fouad Guezati
July 28, 2021 at 2:11 pm
That might be interesting, i hope they do an update on that
lch jr
July 28, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Never ride the subway in the Gulf of Mexico.
junilog
July 28, 2021 at 3:35 pm
I know the research was done pre-covid but I’m curious whether the virus is going to hang out forever like those other bacterias that used to be lethal
Sheila Mac10
July 28, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Isn’t germs the way our ancestors built up immune systems? The reason we’re all sick now, is because of all the antibiotics that are given to us Everytime someone gets sick. Heck my sister used to eat dirt, and she’s Hardley ever sick. All these medicines we take have ruined our microflora in our gut, now Noone can fight off anything.
Tyra Bjurman
July 28, 2021 at 9:22 pm
But if you grab the pole, your hands will be sticky for the rest of the day.
Bella’s Mom
July 28, 2021 at 11:20 pm
They found rat DNA in the subway, but did they find pizza DNA in the subway?
SE strafe
July 29, 2021 at 2:50 pm
Is yeast close enough?
SE strafe
July 29, 2021 at 2:50 pm
Pizza dna??? Tf
Cappuccino
July 29, 2021 at 3:37 am
Sus 1:04
Mr.GoldFarmer
July 29, 2021 at 5:30 am
This is why I try never to hold the grab handles or the poles on the trains and buses unless absolutely necessary…
Tim 57
July 29, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Extremely interesting.
Ricardo Martinez
July 29, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Moral of the story: You can lick a subway pole.
Eddie Hopper
July 29, 2021 at 7:31 pm
Lol I like how Naples has a higher concentrate of microscopic pizza dough than other cities
Michael I
July 29, 2021 at 7:45 pm
China? India? The good doctor must be aware that a sizeable chunk of the world population lives in Asia(outside Japan).
C10na
July 29, 2021 at 7:46 pm
Sooooo, I shouldn’t be as grossed out as I was when my daughter put her face on the seat infront of us in the bus today? She just exposed herself to a good amount of probiotics?
Phlegethon
July 29, 2021 at 8:02 pm
Oh there’s no pathogen waiting for me in the crowded subway in 2021 awesome
Fam Alam
July 29, 2021 at 8:53 pm
I try so hard not to touch anything on the subway.
Gross.
TathD
July 29, 2021 at 9:03 pm
Cities they studied:
New York
Naples
Rio de Janeiro
Tokyo
Cait
July 29, 2021 at 9:07 pm
0:19 mmmm cheetos
Ru cha16
July 30, 2021 at 6:45 am
I can’t lmao
Nobody
July 29, 2021 at 9:36 pm
Everyone touching the poles all gangster till you realise you’re probably touching COVID-19
Chip Kosboth
July 29, 2021 at 10:38 pm
Moral of the story: buy new shoes when you go to a new city before committing crimes
Winter Checkmate
July 30, 2021 at 12:19 am
Wait do I see Volvox in the thumbnail?
FloorManiac
July 30, 2021 at 1:00 am
Which subway line has the most poo though?
Jeff
July 30, 2021 at 1:12 am
Life is gross.
Penelope hunter
July 30, 2021 at 5:18 am
Would love them to do this round the U.K., I’d be very intrigued
Shar Rajab
July 30, 2021 at 6:21 am
At the end of the video: I have no confidence to hold on a subway pole ever again.
dlxe
July 30, 2021 at 7:05 am
What a badly timed video. Seriously, w covid you’re having someone say Yea go in with reckless abandon? 😅
MarkVlogs
July 30, 2021 at 10:28 am
Just lick your fingers after holding on the pole :).
Jellyman
July 30, 2021 at 11:19 am
Im confused
Idk if im supposed to be disgusted, wary or reassured
Thanks WIRED 👍
yj
July 30, 2021 at 1:34 pm
does anyone have the link to his article? or the ISSN number?
SN - 10ZZ 708538 Glenforest SS
July 30, 2021 at 3:30 pm
TTC is the best subway!
Meg B
July 30, 2021 at 3:39 pm
Is the ceiling of some locations tested as well?
Brian Pan
July 30, 2021 at 5:31 pm
Pretty sure Tokyo has novel ones because they actually clean their subways… unlike most other places.
OriginalContent
July 30, 2021 at 5:54 pm
I’m only able to watch this because I don’t live anywhere near a subway
Random Rangoon
July 30, 2021 at 6:05 pm
I’ll tell you what doctors learned it’s simple…
People are gross
Florian Nagl
July 30, 2021 at 6:11 pm
He looks like Ted Bundy.
R Van der Merwe
July 30, 2021 at 6:19 pm
What about Covid which I’m sure most of us clicked on this video for?
Vashti Perry
July 31, 2021 at 4:22 pm
He said there wasn’t a lot of pathogens
Luis Casanova
July 30, 2021 at 6:58 pm
vengan al subte de argentina y hablamos, gatitos
Alexa Ria
July 30, 2021 at 8:43 pm
That’s why I don’t touch the poles anymore. I’m just holding it with my sweater or just avoid it. It’s so sticky if you feel it.
jay Parker
July 31, 2021 at 9:26 am
Havent took the subway in two years and lowkey havent been sick since
Khemore
July 31, 2021 at 9:44 am
Maybe that explains the special smell when u go down into a Metro 🙂
Must admit i for some reason like the smell lol
Herazsch
July 31, 2021 at 10:46 am
Interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Secret Nobody
July 31, 2021 at 11:54 am
People worried about getting germs and bacteria in contact with their body.
Also people: eat my as$ babe,
“imma eat your as$ babe”
Maya Goursam
August 1, 2021 at 8:14 am
never laughed at a comment so hard
Aljohn Magnaye
August 1, 2021 at 9:42 am
…AND PROCEED KISSING
Kev Glass
July 31, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Wow germs.
I’m shocked.
Joseph Ukedaddy05
July 31, 2021 at 1:27 pm
Good for solving crimes!
ssjwes
July 31, 2021 at 1:27 pm
The more you fight, the stronger you make them. Would be better to let natural processes take care of a lot of this. All they are doing by fighting is creating more hostile strains…
Vashti Perry
July 31, 2021 at 4:24 pm
People just wash your hands when you can
revlol
July 31, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Fascinating
Arabian Sihir
July 31, 2021 at 7:25 pm
Dissapointing! I was hoping for Clostridium Difficile and E Coli the poo stuff, not Staph Aureus etc normal expected stuff.
dana دانا
July 31, 2021 at 7:51 pm
it so weird to be told not to be afraid of touching public transportation polls after the pandemic
rey619lh
July 31, 2021 at 7:56 pm
So in nyc you find construction germs
In naples you’ll find pizza germs
In greece you’ll find fish germs
And in Tokyo you’ll find Otaku germs? Got it
xue 717
July 31, 2021 at 8:31 pm
I would be interested to see if they could swab a palm of three people on each station and inside each train, New York City wide and worldwide. And see the results.
Tostada Jones
July 31, 2021 at 11:57 pm
Lick a handrail?
Roksana Buller
August 1, 2021 at 12:37 am
watching this at 2am just hits different
Cheryl-Lynn Mehring
August 1, 2021 at 5:13 am
You have to be tough to make it in NY, even if you are a Microbe!
Complex Objects
August 1, 2021 at 6:42 am
Unfortunately I dont care if it’s “relatively safe” due to lack of pathogens. Im not going to feel comfortable grabbing something with human residue and fecal matter on it.
Belltogo3000
August 1, 2021 at 3:39 pm
If so then you shouldn’t be comfortable ever leaving your house
Sankalp Bansal
August 1, 2021 at 8:17 am
India? What abt our subway system?
I spilled my coffee on the floor
August 1, 2021 at 2:21 pm
The train is so Italian it has yeast for baking pizza.
Beep Boop
August 1, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Love the thought that touching the poles in the train station might help find a cure for a disease!
Eftkud12345
August 1, 2021 at 7:06 pm
Im surprised there were no coliforms (or not significant) considering how people behave in the subways as shown in social media
futsk01
August 1, 2021 at 8:04 pm
Ok time to start licking that pole
Insignificant Other
August 1, 2021 at 10:31 pm
You finally learned that germs are literally everywhere?
Dead Man Drifting
August 2, 2021 at 12:09 am
did he said fun guy?
Dead Man Drifting
August 2, 2021 at 12:09 am
***joke***
Binging with Comics Nerd
August 2, 2021 at 2:03 am
Why do you got to be so germophobic?
Shanti being rational
August 2, 2021 at 2:12 am
This is why when babies eat dirt its, they have a better immune system. Pediatricians always tell you keep the baby clean, that sterile environment is why so many adults have messed up immune systems.
Rehab Ehab
August 2, 2021 at 2:40 am
Why didn’t you guys hit SF????
BooBooYup
August 2, 2021 at 3:12 am
grab it with confidence.
Covid: Yes, another pray 🙂
Nashmiyya
August 2, 2021 at 10:08 am
Tokyo; a city so technologically advanced, even their microbes are more unique and advanced than the rest of the world.
Jerry Mouse
August 2, 2021 at 2:05 pm
So this guy and his team could’ve helped us avoid Corona. Should’ve hit up China
Pauli
August 2, 2021 at 3:02 pm
The vocal crack narration…..Jeesz lady take a throat lozenge
reb1138
August 2, 2021 at 6:06 pm
Why am I eating while watching this
mimmi brontola
August 4, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Are you in Naples?
reb1138
August 4, 2021 at 5:21 pm
@mimmi brontola I wish!
Nikki Rosen
August 2, 2021 at 9:04 pm
People obsessed with safety are sick.
Emre C. Korkmaz
August 2, 2021 at 9:05 pm
And the enduring cases of dairy intolerance can be observed by the noses of common people. Subway cars provide perfect containers enabling longer periods of observation to the aspiring future scientist, besides every other person. :))
SensualBrunette
August 3, 2021 at 1:32 am
Wash Your hands all the time! Take your shoes off before you enter your apartment or house!
Jim turning
August 3, 2021 at 1:53 am
Do Not Touch Chinese Metro.
Ro Ro
August 3, 2021 at 1:53 pm
People actually touched subway poles? 🤢
Omaer 1
August 3, 2021 at 7:01 pm
Alhamdulillah(swt)
Dodge This!
August 4, 2021 at 2:47 am
This isnt anything new. Have you been to a public restroom? Have you seen a doorknob anywhere? Why not test every seat anywhere?
Space Voyager
August 4, 2021 at 7:15 am
Olympics=probiotic! 😀 Actually loughed out loud!
Imran G
August 4, 2021 at 9:22 pm
Whats about other stuff like body fluids Faecal bacteria